Knitting machine



ept. 17 0' W. RI TER KNITTING NE 3 shQets heet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1938 INVOR Sept. 17. 1940. w. RICHTER ,2

' KNITTING MACHINE FiledNov. 14, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 UNITED- STATESPATENT OFFICE- KNITTING MACHINE William Richter, Kankakee, Ill.,assignor to Paramount Textile Machinery Co., corporation of IllinoisChicago, 111., a

Application November 14, 1938, Serial No. 240,219

7 Claims. (Cl. 66.144)

This invention relates to circular knitting machines and moreparticularly to a mechanism for delivering to the needles of a knittingmachine, a continuous single thread formed of separate lengths ofthreads oi. diiferent weight, kind or color or combinations thereof forthe purpose of forming zones of fabric in 'the knitted article ofdiiiering composition, or color. In particular it relates to such amechanism comprising means to select from a plurality of yarn sourcesany desired yarn, and means to tie said selected yarn to any of theremaining yarns which is then being fed to the knitting station.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanism thatwill accommodate a larger number of different kinds or colors of yarnthan has heretofore been possible.

Another object is to provide a mechanism that can be adapted from thosepresently employed with a minimum of reconstruction.

Still a further object is to provide such a mechanism including means toprevent entanglement of the substantially larger number ofthreadsaccommodated while they are being fed to the selecting means.

Another aim is the provision of means included in such mechanism toselect anyone of the several yarns accommodated without danger ofbreakageof the parts thereof by mis-timing of the mechanism.

The device constituting the present invention is an improvement in thethread selecting device disclosed in United States Letters Patentgranted to Walter Larkin No. 1,624,792 of April 12, 1927, No. 1,726,396of August 27, 1929, No. 1,841,249 of January 12, 1932 and No. 1,949,314of February 27, 1934. Those patents describe thread selecting andknotting devices of the general class referred to above and capable ofselecting any one of four differently colored threads being fed from inthe extreme, perhaps five. However, for cer-' tain classes of work it isdesirable to select as many as eight yarns or more in which cases theconstruction of Larkin cannot be employed for reasons which will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

-In the following description I do not intend to limit myself to theselection of differently colored yarns for forming horizontal stripes instockings, but may employ threads of different weight or kind. Nor do Iintend to limit myself to any particular type of knitting machine, asfor example the ribber of Larkin for forming stringwork, but may adaptmy invention to other types of machines, as for example, those forforming plain knit fabric in stringwork, for forming complete stockingshaving'a heel and toepockets and combining both plain and rib knitting,or to fiat machines. Nor do I intend to confine myself to thecombination of my invention with the particular knotting mechanismdisclosed here or in Larkin since it will appear that my selecting meansis capable of being associated with other types of knotting or threadjoining instrumentalities.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a knitting machine including the presentimprovement;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the machine;

Figure 3 is a detail on somewhat enlarged scale showing the yarngathering arm'operatin g mechanism;

Figure 4 is a detail in side elevation of the yarn guiding fingers andsomeassociated parts;

Figure5 is a partial plan view of the yarn selecting fingers andmechanism associated therewith, and

Figure 6 is a detail in plan view of the auxiliary yarn guidingmechanism.

In these drawings I have, for clarity, omitted or broken awayinconsequential portions.

Now referring to Figure 1, numeral l0 indicates generally the knittinghead of the machine comprising the needles, either cylinder or cylinderand dial, the cylinder or cylinder and dial therefor, the cam box aswell as other mechanism conventionally employed in knitting a stockingor part thereof. Attached by an arm II to the bedplate l2 ofthe machineis the thread selecting and knotting mechanism generally referred to asl3, to which detailed reference will now be made. 1 Mounted in thebracket II is a post It on which is attached a box-like frame l5.Passing carriedonasprocketil. sprocketilisstepped along intermittentlyto move the chain 23 past the roller 21 by a ratcliet and pawl, notshown,

but standard on substantially every machine to loyarns Carried on chain23 are lugs 32:: to 32k inclusive of different heights relative to thecenter of sprocket 23 so that as each lug passes under the roller 21 thearm 23 is rocked over variousangles depending upon the height of thethen functioning lug.

It will be understood that these lugs need notnecessarilybespacedasshownbut maybear- ,ranged differing distances apartor in any particular order of sequence, the sequence determining thestage in the knitting of the article at which a'particular one of theyarns istc be introduced, and the height'of the lug the particular yarnto be then selected. Lugs 32a, etc. are removable from the chain and maybe assembled in any desired sequence or spacing on the chain.

The other arm 33 of lever I1 is connected at 33 to a rod 33 whosedownwardly bent extremity 33 enters with a sliding fit a hole 33 incylinder '31, whereby upon rocking of lever I1. the member 33 andcylinder 31 act together as a dashpot to absorb shock and overtravel tofacilitate rapid and frequent positioning of lever I1. Cylinder 31 ispivoted at 33 to allow for the various angular podtionstakenbyrodfl.Aspringfl between arm 33 and the frame of the machine urges lever I1 ina clockwise-direction and its associated rocker 2l'counter-clockwise tomaintgin roller 21 in contact with chain 23 and lugs 3 etc.

Affixedtothe lower endofarmllisanarcuate segmentahselector cam 33(Figures 1 and 5) wider at its at point of attachment and narrowing toits extremity as shown. In en- Easement with said cam is the follower l3mounted in a rod 33 (Figure 5) s ded by and slidable laterally in thesides of the frame 13. Fixed to the rod 33 by a screw clamp joint 33 andserving to maintain the same from rotating about its axis, is the arm31, the other U-shaped end of which substantially embraces an annularrecess 33 ofahubflformingpartofayarnguidefinger selecting cam 32. Spring33 attached to the frame and to rod 33 constantly urges follower 43 intocontact with its cam 33.

Arrangedsidebysideon ashaftflfixedin the sides of the frame I3 andadapted to rock thereon is a plurality of yarn guide fingers 33a,

3317, etc., each comprised of a support 33 on which .is carried theextended portion 33 curved upwardlyasshowntoreceivetheyarn a m.Rotatableonsplndle I3isa gear 12 (Fisure 3) to-which is connectedthelink "by means of a pivot 13. At its lower extremity the link .1; ispivoted at 13-to rocker 16 adapted to reciprocate about spindle 33. Apawl 11 pivoted at 13onrocker13isurgedagainstsurface32by a spring 33.Surface 32 is part of a controller 7 spring I33 constantly urging studI33 and hence 33. Lever 35 is pivotally connected at 33 to link 31extending from arm 33 of bell crank lever I'I. Mounted on constantlyrotating shaft 32 is an eccentric 33 whose yoke 34 is fastened to con- 3necting rod 33. Said rod 35 at its other end is pivoted on rocker 33rotatable on spindle 33. At its lower end rocker 93 is provided with alug 31 and at itsupper end with a portion 33 adapted to bear against anadjustable stop screw I32 carried in an arm IIl3 of rocker 13.

Afilxed in bevel gear 12 is a lateral rod II2 passing through a hole II3 in cam 32 and having a sliding fit therewith so that while cam 32 isfree to be positioned atany point longitudinally of rod I I2, it canstill be rotated on its shaft I3 simultaneously with rotation of gear12.

A spindle I22 is affixed at I23 to the frame I3 and rotatably carries abushing I23 to the inner end of which is attached the bevel pinio'n- I23in mesh with gear 12. Rotatably mounted on bushing I23 is anotherbushing I23 carrying at its outer end a yarn gathering member I21. Ascrew I23 taking into spindle I 22' maintains the several parts inoperative relation axially while permitting them to rotate freely.Inserted in bushing I23 is a stud I32 and in bushing I23 a stud I33between which studs extends a coil bushing I23 with its member I21against a stop I23 forming part of the frame. Normally, i. e. when bevelgear 12 is at rest, stud I32 is againstedge I35 of a rectangular slotI33 in the inner edge of bushing I23. Stud I32 is-substantially smallerin diameter 'than the circumferential width of slot I33 for a purpose tobe presently described.

Yarn gathering member I21 cooperates with a knotting mechanism indicatedgenerally by I32, which, although part of the present invention, is 49not claimed per se and will be described by reference to theaforementioned Larkin patents which disclose details thereof and therelation- J ship with those portions of the machine forming theprincipal subject matter of the. present invenion.

Mounted on a convenient support I32 held by the frame of the knittingmachine are the yarn bobbins Ilia to in inclusive, from each of whichare fed the yarns a, b, 0, etc. Said yarns .pass upwardlythrough eyeletsI33 in a support shape, each arm of which carries a plurality of eyeletsI31 'and I33. Forming part of the support I 33 and on the side nearestthe yarn sources is an aligning member I32 comprised of alternat-' ingsubstantially semicircular channels In as clearly shown in Figure 2, onefor each yarn. Disposed between the arms of member I33 is a rod I33bearing a plurality of pairs of friction discs I35 of a common type, onepair for each yarn, and-spaced freely from each other on the a rod I33by springs I33.v Springs I31 and I33 re strained by fixed collar I12 andadjustable collar I13 mflntaindiscs I33 in lateral position in alignmentwith eyelets I31 and I33.

Yarns a, b, 0, etc., afterleaving the bobbins 1 are guided and alignedby channels I33 into eyelets I31; between discs I33, through eyeletsI33.

' to pass through eyelets 33 from whence all but one are gathered in agroup and Jointly held in clamping forming part of knotting mech- 7anism I42. It will be noted that the one excepted yarn, as for example,c, is at a given moment being fed to the needles of the machine.

Operation of the apparatus as detailed will now be described. It will beassumed that a yarn c is being fed to the needles of the machine andthat it is desired to introduceto the knitting station one of the otheryarns to be selected from a, b,. d, e, f. g and h. For convenience let Ibe the one to be introduced.

At the time such new: selection is to be made the lug 32! on chain 28 isbrought beneath the follower 26 by rotation of sprocket 29 whereuponlever 24 is rocked clockwise and through link 22 rocks crank I1counter-clockwise. Accordingly cam 43 permits its follower 44 throughspring 53,

rod and yoke 41, to slide selector cam 52 laterally.

It will be remembered that lugs 32a, etc., are of difierentheights sothat the motion transmitted to move cam 43 will rotate the same to aposition whereat cam 52 is positioned directly over the yarn finger 63),carrying yarn f.

Simultaneously with the positioning of cam 52, crank I1 actuates link 81and thereby itsassociated controller cam 84 to permit the pawl 11, thenidling on surface 82, to drop into position to be actuated by lug 91. Atthis time the link 95 is moving to the right, as seen in Figure 1 bymeans of eccentric 93 and thereupon upon movement to the left the lug 91engages pawl 11 to thereby operate rocker 16 clockwise and its link 13upward.

Upon such upward movement of link 13 bevel gear 12 is, through thepivot, 14, rotated clock! wise to rock the rod H2 and its associated cam52 in the same direction. Cam 52 then operates the finger 63f downwardto bring yarn f into the path of yarn gathering member I21 (Figure 1).

Simultaneously with rotation of gear 12 pinion I25 and itsassociatedbushing I24 also rotate in a counter-clockwise direction asviewed in Figure 2. Accordingly pin I32 also rotates until it engagesthe upper edge of slot I36 whereupon further rotation of said pincarries with it sleeve I26 and yarn gathering member I21 in the samedirection of rotation. Consequently when mem ber I21 approaches yarn fit is carried into the knotter mechanism I42, tied to the) then feedingyarn c and thence to the knitting station, all as explained in theaforementioned Larkin patents.

In prior mechanisms the member I21 was made integral with pinion I25 sothat immediately upon rotation of gear 12, cam 52 and pinion I25,

the member I21"likewise began to rotate. Ac-

cordingly, there was little, if any, time delay between actuation oi afinger 63a, etc.; and its associated yarn into the path of member, I21and the movement of said member to gather said yarn. As a result, thenumber of yarn fingers 63a, 'etc.; and hence selectable yarns waslimited to four or five; otherwise the member I21 reached yarn gatheringposition at almost the same time as the yarn was brought into positionto be gathered. In such cases misfunctioning by failure of the memberI21 to pick up the yarn intended to be selected, or entanglementfromimproper pickup of the yarn occurred. For proper operation the yarnshould ;be located in the path of member I21 well before the latterreaches gathering position.

This desired relationship or timingis obtained by the improvement ofthis invention. By the cooperation of the pin I32 and slot I36 the pin.

. 3 the width of the slot and the diameter of the pin before member ,I21is actuated and it is this Although I have illustrated the invention asapplied to amachine wherein yarn selection is primarily'controlledthrough a pattern chain it will be appreciated that such selectionmay-be attained by a pattern drum having cam surfaces of certain contouror any equivalent selecting means. g

The yarn guiding means shown particularly in Figure 6 acts to segregateeach'yarn from its neighbor by the channels I63, which function aspartitions between the yarns to prevent entanglement prior to theirreaching the position guiding eyelets I51. It will be appreciated thatin practice bobbins II5a, etc., are disposed at random on the supportI52 so that the yarns feeding therefrom may cross each other in theirtransit to eyelets I61. Depending upon the relationship of the yarnbobbins with respect to eyelets I51, the grooves I63 may be arrangedfanwise, i. .e. divergent at the ends -at which the yarns enter andconverging towardsthe eyelets I51, so as'to subject the several yarns toa natural guiding movement as they run from a number of widely spacedbobbins into the relatively narrow grouping of eyelets I51.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, a series of knitting instrumentalities, agroup of yarn sources, pattern controlling mechanism, means controlledby said mechanism to select one of said yarns; means to join one of saidyarns intransit to the knitting position to another yarn selected fromthe group including means to sever said fed yarn after joining; agathering member to carry said newly selected yarn into joining positionand timing means associated with said gathering member to delay theaction thereof -.beyond the actuation of the yarn selecting means.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said timing means comprises amember operated simultaneously with saidyarn selecting means and havinga projection adapted to engage a slot in said gathering member, saidprojection being smaller than said slot. I

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said tim ing means comprises amember operated simultaneously with said yarn selecting means and havinga projection adapted to engage a slot insaid gathering member, saidprojection being smaller than said slot and tension means to urge saidgathering member to a normally inactive position. I

4. The structure of claim -1in which said timing means comprises amember operating simultaneously with said yarn selecting means andhaving an element adapted to engage a co-acting element in saidgathering member, the member first mentioned and the gathering memberadapted to rotate with respect toeach other on a common axis, and thesaid elements being separated a predetermined angular distance withrespect to saidaxis.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said timing means comprises amember operating simul- 76 taneously with said yarn selecting means andhaving an element adapted to engage a co-acting element in saidgathering member after a predetermined time interval.

6. In a knitting machine, knitting instrumentalities,. a group of yarnsources, means to select at least one of said yarns for introductioninto knitting position, meansto ,join said yarn or yarns to the yarn oryarns then in transit to knitting position, a gathering member to carrysaid newly selected yarn or yarns into joining position and timing meansto delay the action of the gathering member beyond the actuation of theyarn selecting means.

'1. In a knitting machine, knitting instrumen talities.agroupoiyarnsourcmmeanstoselect any of said yarns for presentation toknitting position, mechanism to join said selected yarn to a yarn thenin transit to knitting position, means for directing said selected yarnto said joining mechanism, said first and second meansbeingactuatediromacommonsource,andtim-.

lecting means.

' WILLIAM RICHTER

